Folding crate.



z L SUTTON' E. FOLDING. GRATAY 4. l912- IUATION FILED M APPL 13.Patented July 1 19 ZUM M www",

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ZOA L. SUTTON, OF LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS.

FOLDING CRATE.

To all whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, ZoA L. SUTTON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Little Rock, in the county of Pulaski and State of Arkansas,have invented new and useful improvements in Folding Crates, of whichthe following is a specification.

The general object of this invention is the provision of a sectionalknock-down or ifo-ld-` able crate which is adapted to be used forhousing poultry and which is so constructed as to occupy a small amountof space when in its folded position.

In carrying out the objects of the invention generally stated above, itwill be understood, of course, that the essential features thereof aresusceptible to changes in details and structural arrangements, onepreferred and practical embodiment being shown in the accompanyingdrawing, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of the crate constructedin accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the cratein its folded position. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view of thecrate in its folded position. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of theclips for retaining the side and end sections in their uprightpositions.

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawing it will be seenthat the invention comprises a solid bottom 5 having secured thereto atone of its longitudinal edges an upstanding bar 6 and through its otherlongitudinal edge an upstanding bar 7, the latter bar being of greaterwidth than the former. The side sections 8 and 9 of the crate are hingedto the bars 6 and 7 respectively by means of the hinges 10. Each of theside sections comprises the longitudinal strips 11 and transverse strips12 having mounted f therebetween the wire netting 13 in order 'toprevent the escape of poultry from the crate. Hinged to the transverseedges of the bottom 5 are the end sections 14 which comprise thelongitudinal strips 15 yand transverse strips 16, said end sectionsbeing closed by means of the wire netting 17. Secured to the freelongitudinal strips 15 of each of the end sections is a holding clip 18,said clip being made of a single strip of metal bent to form parallelarms 19 which are adapted to be secured to the edges of the saidlongitudinal strips 15. The arms 19 are bent inwardly upon themselves topro- Y Speccation of Letters Itatent.r Patented July 1, 1913i.VApplication ledMay 4, 1912-. Serial No. 695,145.` V n vide a U-shapedseat 20 for the reception of the top of the crate which will be pres-yclips 18 are secured to each of the longitu- `dinal strips 15 of the endsections at a point adjacent one end thereo-fso that when the crate isin its set-up position, said clips will be adapted to receive thetransverse strips 25 of the top section 21, thus retaining said topsection in position and preventing lateral movement thereof. The topsection 22 has secured to each of its transverse strips `25 a clip 26which is similar in construction to the clips 18 carried by the endsection but which are secured to. the top section 22 in reverse positionto the clips 18 so that the said clip 26 will engage the adjacentlongitudinal strip 15 of the end section thusk preventing any-lateralmovement of the said top section 22. The top sections 21 yand 22 arealso provided with the wire netting 27 and the said section 22 hasformed therein a suitable door 28 whereby access may be had to theinterior of the crate. Pivotally connected to one of the longitudinalstrips 25 of the top section 22 is a locking plate 29 having an opening30 therein for the reception of a keeper 31 carried by the adjacentlongitudinal top section 21. A latch 32 is also pivotally mounted uponthe same pivot means used in connection with the locking plate 29, saidlatch being adapted to engage the keeper 31 and thus substantiallyretain the top sect-ion in a locking position.

When it is desired to fold the crate, Lthe latch 32 is first disengagedfrom the keeper 31 and the top section 22 is then swung outwardly uponits hinges 23. The section 21 is then disengaged from the clips 18 thuspermitting the end sections 14 to be swung inwardly upon the bottom 5 ofthe crate. The side section 8 and the top section 21 are then swunginwardly so that the same will rest upon the end sections 14. By reasonof the greater width of the bar 7,

the side section 9 and top section 22v will be adapted to be swung uponthe seat andy top i sections 8 and 21 and` resty upon the same in asubstantially horizontal position. When in this position the clips 26carried by the top section 22 will engage the transverse strips-1.2' ofthe side section 8 and thus retain the said to-p section 22 inengagement therewith. The crate is locked in its folded position byengaging the locking plate 29 with a keeper 33 carried by one of' thelongitudinal strips 1l of the side section 8. The latch 32 is then swunginto engagement with' the keeper 33' thereby locking the crate in itsfolded position. y n

From the foregoing description it will be obvious that theinvention'contem'plates providing a crate whichv i'sI simple inconstruction thus reducing the cost of manufacture othe same to aminimum, and? whichis durable and effective inl operation.

What is claimed is A crate comprising a bottom, side sections hingedthereto, top sections hinged to said lside sections, end sections hingedto said bottom', clips carried by one of said top .sections and adaptedto engage said end sections, and similar clips carried by said .endsections and adapted to engage the other of said top sections, saidclips being formed from a single length of material bent to providespaced parallel arms, the intermediate portion of said arms being bentinwardly to provide a substantially U- shaped seat for the reception ofeither the end or top section.

In testimony whereof I' aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ZOA L. SUTTON. Witnesses:

JAS. O. JOHNSON, ETTA BLACKBURN.

Copies of this patentniay Be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C.`

